Archive: August 25, 2016

How are you spending the last Bank Holiday weekend of the summer?Heading to a festival? Doing a spot of DIY? or just trying to catch up on some sleep & boxsets?

Did you know that this summer Bank Holiday has been around since 1871?! It was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate and attend cricket matches. I might give the cricket a miss but at least it looks like it will be nice enough weather to get outdoors.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind a bit of glamping, but if solar showers, campfires & lack of wifi aren’t to your taste here’s a small selection of fun activities going on this weekend.

There are so many other events going on all over the country so keep an eye out in your area. You may well want to keep it local too as experts are warning of a so-called ‘carmageddon’ with an estimated 20.7 million vehicles expected to hit the roads.

Speaking of vehicles, will Matt’s buggy ever make it to the beach?

However you’re spending the long weekend why not try something truly unthinkable & turn off your mobile (I’ll allow you to take photos or play music on it). I know, I know, there are Pokémon to be caught, but just try it. Get together with friends, or family, or both and have a laugh!

Most successful away Olympics & second place in the medals table. It’s enough to make you feel patriotic!

5 gold medals in one day for Team GB & 19 in total!

Of course, it’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts. However, Team GB aren’t just taking part, they’re taking medals left, right & centre, as well as breaking records by overtaking China.

Personally, I haven’t been able to watch much of the action, but just the snippets I have caught have literally rendered me speechless. Charlotte Dujardin in the dressage, it’s amazing what those horses can do. As for Rebecca James & Katy Marchant in the cycling sprint, I can’t believe the power those ladies have in their legs.

In true “Brits abroad style”, the Team GB athletes have been celebrating their success at the Olympic village – so much so that they’ve been told to keep their partying under control so as not to disturb those still competing.

Finally, news on the most mysterious story of the whole games: The diving pool has turned blue again! Send us your theories on what made it go green last week.

Summertime, & the living is easy … It’s rumoured to be a pretty sunny weekend so get outdoors & make the most of it but if you want to avoid the dodgy uncooked sausage check out this recipe for a veggie burger instead.

On a more serious note, you need to look after yourselves while enjoying the sunshine. So take a look at our sun safety tips below.

SUN SAFETY TIPS

Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn doesn’t just happen on holiday, you can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy. There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan doesn’t protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.

Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.
Make sure you:

spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm

make sure you never burn

cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses

take extra care with children

use at least factor 15 sunscreen

Protect your eyes in the sun
A day at the beach without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of the eye, similar to sunburn. Reflected sunlight from snow, sand, concrete and water, and artificial light from sunbeds, is particularly dangerous.

Avoid looking directly at the sun, as this can cause permanent eye damage.